Messi's Gigantic Tribute
Argentina Unveils 26-Meter Lionel Messi Statue, Highlighting His Story and Record-Breaking Career
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Key Points
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Argentina media reported the statue project took roughly two years “from conception to final assembly.”
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The statue was credited to sculptor Aldo Beroisa and described as a tribute to a figure who “transcends sport,” with local coverage emphasizing the intent to reflect Messi’s personal story of hard work and overcoming adversity.
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Multiple reports noted Messi is playing for Inter Miami (since 2023) and also listed his club history in Europe, including stints with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
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Coverage of Messi’s World Cup tally added context that the 2026 North and Central America World Cup is being held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—while his 3-0 Algeria hat trick brought him level with the all-time record held by Miroslav Klose (16 goals).
Argentina has unveiled the world's tallest statue of Lionel Messi in the small Patagonian city of Cutral Có, Neuquén province. The monument stands 26 meters (85 feet) tall, weighs 70 tons, and was officially inaugurated on June 21, 2026, according to TASS and Daily Sports.
The unveiling could not have been better timed. Just days earlier, Messi scored a hat trick in Argentina's 3-0 opening World Cup win over Algeria, tying Germany's Miroslav Klose with 16 career World Cup goals — the most in history, The Sun reported.
A 70-Ton Steel Monument Two Years in the Making
The statue was designed by sculptor Aldo Beroisa and took roughly two years from conception to final assembly, according to TASS. It is built from high-grade steel with three layers of concrete. That construction was a direct response to what happened to the previous record-holder in India.
A 21-meter Messi statue in Kolkata began swaying dangerously in strong winds. Engineers found the center of gravity was "off the mark." Indian authorities dismantled it on June 1, 2026. Beroisa's design accounts for Patagonia's harsh wind conditions, making the new statue far more structurally sound, Daily Sports reported.
Cutral Có Bets on Messi to Drive Tourism Beyond Oil
The statue sits at kilometer 1,332 of National Route 22, a major road through Patagonia. It shows Messi kneeling in Argentina's blue-and-white kit, one arm raised, with the 2022 World Cup trophy between his knees. Thousands of residents attended the official inauguration ceremony, according to Marca.
Mayor Ramón Rioseco backed the project to turn the city of 40,000 people into a tourist destination. "This is the only monument that truly reflects the greatness of our beloved Lionel," he said. Local businesses have already begun selling "Messi Route" packages. The city hopes the statue helps shift its identity away from the oil and gas industry.
Sculptor Says Statue Is About Struggle, Not Just Soccer
Beroisa said the statue is not just a sports tribute. He described Messi as a figure who "transcends sport" and represents "effort and the ability to overcome difficulties." The creative brief focused on Messi's personal story — his childhood move from Newell's Old Boys to Barcelona, and years of heartbreak with Argentina's national team before the 2022 World Cup win.
Messi himself has echoed that theme during the current tournament. After his hat trick against Algeria, he said: "I've had some tough days... I thank my teammates for helping me," according to the Associated Press.
Messi's Hat Trick Ties Klose's All-Time World Cup Record
Messi's three goals against Algeria came in Argentina's opening match at the 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The win was watched by 69,045 fans in Kansas City. His 16th career World Cup goal tied Miroslav Klose's record, which had stood since 2014, according to The Sun.
Klose welcomed the challenge. "I expect my record to be broken," he said. "Lionel Messi is welcome to it." Messi, now 38 and playing for Inter Miami in MLS, still has at least two group-stage matches left — against Austria and Jordan — to break the record outright. France's Kylian Mbappé sits at 14 goals and is also in the race.
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